This collection recognizes Black designers and architects whose contributions to commercial design and architecture drive innovation, equity, and excellence across our industry. Their work not only transforms spaces—it helps shape a more inclusive future for design
INI ARCHIBONG
Ini Archibong is an industrial designer, creative director, artist, and musician. His work is characterized by a deep interest in master-craftsmanship and its intrinsic relationship to technology—both modern and ancient. Taking inspiration from the study of architecture, environmental and product design, as well as lifelong passions for mathematics, philosophy, and world religions, he seeks to apply his vision and methods across
a wide range of disciplines. Ini has rapidly accelerated to the forefront his generation of designers, collaborating with venerable brands such as Hermès, Knoll, Logitech, Bernhardt, and Sé.
The son of Nigerian parents who came to the United States as academic scholars, Ini was born and raised in Pasadena, California, where he graduated from Polytechnic School and the Art
Center College of Design. After a period living and working in Singapore, and traveling widely, he moved to Switzerland to pursue further studies—earning a master’s degree in luxury design and craftsmanship from the prestigious École cantonale d'art de Lausanne (ECAL). Ini is a prolific public speaker and teacher, and has recently become a visiting professor at ECAL. He is also the founder of L.M.N.O. CREATIVE, a multi-disciplinary design collective.
NICK CAVE
Nick Cave is an artist and educator who, for over three decades, has created spaces of memorial where his audiences confront issues of race, social justice, and identity politics Cave's work spans sculpture, installation, video, sound, and performance, including his wearable, sculptural Soundsuits, where Cave creates dimension by layering and transforming everyday objects such as beads, doilies, and sequins into material and sociopolitical representations. Cave has exhibited globally at institutions including the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, the Hayward Gallery in London, and the Guggenheim Museum in New York. He serves as professor of Fashion, Body, and Garment at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
mark grattan
Mark Grattan, a designer from Hudson, Ohio, blends two decades of expert craftsmanship with a distinctive and refined aesthetic. His designs explore the relationship between color and texture, drawing influence from tropical modernism, contemporary Italian design, and the elegance of the Art Deco movement. Most recently, his groundbreaking work has earned a place in the permanent collections of The Brooklyn Museum and The Smithsonian, solidifying his legacy in contemporary design. Beyond his craft, Grattan remains a trailblazer and advocate, championing the presence and recognition of Black Mark Grattan creatives in the design sphere. Grattan launched his first textile collection—Layered—for HBF Textiles in June 202
TERRY CREWS
Expanding on his love of craftsmanship and his extensive background as an artist and illustrator, Terry established design house AMEN & AMEN. The company seeks out and supports creatives in the world of art, music, fashion, decor and industrial design. Initially breaking ground with menswear fashion designer Nana Boateng, the label successfully expanded to interior lighting and furnishings in 2016 with the exhibition of Ini Archibong’s The Secret Garden collection at Salon De Mobile in Milan.
NANA BOATENG
Ghanaian-American designer Nana Boateng is known for his refined craftsmanship and modern approach to menswear. His work spans film, television, and collaborations with prominent figures in Hollywood. Most recently, he launched his first fabric collection with Bernhardt Textiles, inspired by global influences, personal experiences, and cultural heritage.
BRIGETTE ROMANEK
Brigette is an award-winning interior designer based in Los Angeles. She founded Romanek Design Studio in 2018, but her love for design began long before that. Brigette spent years traveling, curating, reading, and immersing herself in the beauty of interiors and nature. These experiences inspired her to teach herself design, blending aesthetics with practicality to create spaces that are beautiful, livable and uniquely tailored to each client.
EMMANUEL OLUNKWA
Emmanuel Olunkwa is a Nigerian-American artist, writer, designer, editor, and filmmaker. In 2014, Olunkwa moved to New York and later graduated with a B.A. in Liberal Arts from the Eugene Lang College at The New School with a concentration in Race, Art History, and Architectural Spatiality.
From 2024 to 2025, Olunkwa led publishing and editorial at 52 Walker, David Zwirner’s Tribeca-based gallery, where he established the gallery’s in-house publishing and editorial role during its period as a permanent brick-and-mortar space. From September 2021 to February 2024, he served as the editor of Pin-Up Magazine.
In 2020, Olunkwa co-founded November Magazine, E&Ko., and served as a founding editor of The Broadcast, a publication by the cultural center Pioneer Works.[6] Olunkwa’s work has been published in The New York Times, Artforum, Interview, T Magazine, Architectural Digest, and he is based in New York.
norman teague
Chicago-based designer and educator Norman Teague is a true agent for change, using design as a platform to question historic assumptions about his artform and empower Black and Brown creators to build a more diverse and inclusive future. A globally respected designer, Teague’s art can also be found in permanent collections across America, including the Art Institute of Chicago and Los Angeles Museum of Modern Art. In 2023, Norman Teague Design Studios (NTDS) represented the United States at the 18th International Venice Architecture Biennale.
stephen burks
Stephen Burks is an American designer and a professor of architecture at Columbia University. Burks is known for his collaborations with artisans as well as incorporating craft and weaving into product design. He is the first African American to win the National Design Award for product design.
elan byrd
”I’m a multidisciplinary artist and textile designer from Miami, FL. I studied fashion design and textiles at Parsons School of Design in New York and Central St. Martins in London. I am deeply influenced by the cultural commonalities of ancient civilizations through their use of materials, architecture, woven textiles and the symbols they created as the earliest form of communication. I draw inspiration from these sources by creating modern pieces that embody those similarities, either in the concept for the collection, or in the materials I use. My aesthetic is a reflection of my journey breaking free from the construct of perfection and embracing the beauty in imperfection. It’s a celebration of texture, and the organic, natural forms found in nature.
bOA
BOA is the founder and creative director of OI Studio. She studied graphics at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her passion for all things beautiful led her to the furniture/interiors industry after a past spent working in disparate professions. She has previously been a fashion model, furniture buyer, prop stylist, event producer, furniture sales rep, and importer-not necessarily in that order.
She is a self taught furniture designer who, in the early 2000's spent the first few years of her design practice evangelizing an industry-wide shift to green design, at a time when it was difficult to find materials, manufacturers, or clients that were open to making a change. BOA’s design aesthetic is an intersection of her reverence for nature, minimalism, and fine craftsmanship.
Being raised on St. John, US Virgin Islands (which is mostly a national park) she has always been acutely aware of the need to balance our natural environment with the built one. Her Caribbean roots contribute to her love for the beach and much of her adult life has been spent chasing the sun in far-flung destinations.
ALI SANDIFER
Andre Sandifer of Ali Sandifer is a designer and a self-taught craftsman. He was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan and professionally trained in Architecture. He holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Michigan (2001) and a Bachelor in Facilities Management from Ferris State University (1996). Andre specializes in hand-fabrication with an expertise in hardwoods. He has managed various shop environments focused on woodworking and upholstery. He has worked as a designer on staff and an independent consultant to other furniture studios in addition to Ali Sandifer. As a designer, he has an eye for continuity and connections.
LITTLE WING LEE
Little Wing Lee is an award winning interior designer with over 15 years of experience in cultural, commercial and residential projects.Her sharp eye for color, texture and materiality along with her thoughtful and narrative-driven approach brought her to work with some of the most renowned and inventive design firms, including SOM, Rockwell Group, Ralph Appelbaum Associates, APPARATUS and Ace Hotel Group/Atelier Ace.
In 2019, she started her own interior design practice, Studio & Projects. She also publicly launched Black Folks in Design, an organization whose mission is to bring awareness to and promote the cultural contributions, excellence, and importance of Black designers.
mikel welch
Mikel Welch is the designer mastermind behind Mikel Welch Designs, celebrated for its sophisticated and accessible approach to interior design. He won an Emmy for his work on Netflix's hit series Hack My Home and currently serves as the in-house design expert on The Drew Barrymore Show.
Mikel leads Mikel Welch Designs, a firm celebrated for its sophisticated and accessible approach to interior design. His expertise has been featured in House Beautiful's prestigious 2020 NEXT WAVE designers list, alongside accolades from Architectural Digest, Traditional Home, and Elle Decor, among others. Mikel's designs have graced the sets of HGTV, and he's lent his expertise to shows like TLC's Trading Spaces and Quibi's Murder House Flip.
ishka designs
Ishka Designs is a full service interior design firm founded by Anishka Clark, and Niya Bascom. Their work pulls from culture and heritage, including Clark’s Jamaican roots, and focuses on minimalism, natural materials, artisanship, and exquisite craftsmanship. Their signature design expression is minimal, modern, unrefined, natural luxury—often working closely with clients to collaborate on original pieces for interiors projects, with materials sourced from the site surroundings. Thoughtful about environmental impact, their design process considers the site location, environment, and impact of design. Ishka Designs has been named to the Elle Décor A-List since 2019, and was recently listed as a 1stDibs 50 Honoree.
CLINTON GRAVELY
Gravely opened his own firm in 1967 and over the years amassed a portfolio of over 800 projects, including 100 churches and the NC A&T University Library. In 1996 he was the Outstanding Architect of the Year for the NC Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects. He was the original architect for Greensboro's International Civil Rights Museum which was completed by the Freelon Group. He continues in practice in Greensboro.
PAUL REVERE WILLIAMS
One of the most well-known black architects, Paul Revere Williams’ 50-year career and over 2,000-designed homes has played a major role in shaping Southern California’s signature architectural style. Williams studied architecture at the Beaux-Arts Institute of Design and trained at several prominent Los Angeles firms before starting his own practice. He became the first black member of the American Institute of Architects in 1923. Williams is also the mind behind the iconic, space-aged Theme Building at the Los Angeles International Airport. Despite the countless barriers Williams faced due to the color of his skin, he remained steadfast and determined as an architect. He even learned how to draw upside down so he could position himself across the table from white clients who were uncomfortable sitting next to him when reviewing plans. In 2017, Williams was posthumously awarded the AIA Gold Medal.
JAMES H. GARROTT
James was an American architect active in the Los Angeles area in the mid-20th century. In 1946, he became the second Black architect admitted to the American Institute of Architects. He designed more than 200 buildings, including twenty-five churches and several public buildings. He has been described as a "pivotal black avant garde modernist of the 1940s era.” Garrott was also known as a civil rights activist and “ardent worker in the constant fight for the rights of minorities.” He was an active member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Urban League, and belonged to a group of progressively-minded designers
